#pta

As natural selection acts by competition, it adapts the inhabitants of each country only in relation to the degree of perfection of their associates; so that we need feel no surprise at the inhabitants of any one country, although on the ordinary view supposed to have been specially created and adapted for that country, being beaten and supplanted by the naturalised productions from another land. ↗

— Charles Darwin

#darwin #evolution #nature

From The Ghost Wars- on the concept of the Torah as ancient science fiction. “Take the story of the fall of the tower of Babel. Let’s say this represents not an act of God, nor a metaphor for this planet’s diverse linguistic heritage; but a catastrophic act of terrorism by the Divisionists to sever mankind from the neural net. The internet in this situation becomes mankind’s attempt to build a physical replacement for a natural ability long lost. Think of it as a wooden leg or a pacemaker. ↗

— Cole J. Davis

#mythology #the-ghost-wars #nature

A relationship is like being in a forest, where snakes lurk awaiting the chance to entice. ↗

— Anthony Liccione

#lure #snakes #temptation #relationship

I have a self-made quote: Celebrate diversity, practice acceptance and may we all choose peaceful options to conflict. ↗

— Donzella Michele Malone

#celebrate #conflict #diversity #inspirational #peace

I endeavored to renounce society, that I might avoid temptation. But it was a poor religion; so far as it prevailed, only tended to make me gloomy, stupid, unsociable, and useless. ↗

— John Newton

#legalism #temptation #religion

You've been brought up like a gentleman and a Christian, and I should be false to the trust laid upon me by your dead father and mother if I allowed you to expose yourself to such temptation.' Well, I know I'm not a Christian and I'm beginning to doubt whether I'm a gentleman,' said Philip. ↗

— W. Somerset Maugham

#religion #temptation #religion

Change is not what we expect from religious people. They tend to love the past more than the present or the future. ↗

— Richard Rohr

#change #conservatism #religion #status-quo #religion

Don't fret, boy. I'm not so foolish as to ridicule the myths and legends of other people. For countless generations, people, no matter where they're from, have been trying to understand this world of ours. ↗

— Nahoko Uehashi

#religion #respect #spirituality #tolerance #religion

Whenever the devil harasses you, seek the company of men or drink more, or joke and talk nonsense, or do some other merry thing. Sometimes we must drink more, sport, recreate ourselves, and even sin a little to spite the devil, so that we leave him no place for troubling our consciences with trifles. We are conquered if we try too conscientiously not to sin at all. So when the devil says to you: do not drink, answer him: I will drink, and right freely, just because you tell me not to. ↗

— Martin Luther

#devil #drinking #temptation #men

I am simply a 'book drunkard.' Books have the same irresistible temptation for me that liquor has for its devotee. I cannot withstand them. ↗

— L.M. Montgomery

#temptation